British Museum uses Art Fund Prize money for 'Spotlight Tours'

11 June 2012

Following its victory in last year's Art Fund Prize, the British Museum will use the £100,000 prize money to fund a series of Spotlight Tours, taking single star objects from its collection to venues across the UK.

Among the glittering roster of objects that the museum has selected are the following:

A stunning bronze bust of Herakles, which will travel to the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill (30 June-15 September) as the centrepiece for the venue’s Olympic projects.

The Mildenhall Great Dish, a masterpiece of Romano-British craftsmanship, which will be lent to the Wolsey Art Gallery in Ipswich (26 July-23 October).

The Swimming Reindeer, an intricately carved tusk dating to 13,000 years ago, which will be lent to the Ice Age cave site at Creswell Crags in Derbyshire (19 October-17 December), to complement its existing collection.

The Gayer Anderson Cat, a gold-decorated bronze rendering of the Ancient Egyptian goddess Bastet, which will travel to Shetland Museum and Archives (8 September-9 December).

The rare Sikh Fortress turban, with accompanying weapons and badge, which will travel to seven separate venues from February next year.

David Rhodes, Curator at the De La Warr Pavilion, said: ‘The Bronze Herakles will have a huge impact on our visitors through its impressive physical presence and will act as an introduction to the ancient Games. The Pavilion is known primarily as a centre for contemporary art, so this sculpture will provide an unusual and surprising juxtaposition for our visitors’.